The state of the mountain.

Blaize quickly became a guide through this treacherous mountain, lighting up the area around her thanks to her heated body. As such, Maxius didn't have to waste any more mana using his fire ring, but you had a feeling that he had an incredible amount of mana considering he still held mana even while he was nothing but bones.

Maxius and Blaize walked together, chatting so freely and particularly the vampiric mage who wanted to know as much as he could about his previous life. Unfortunately for him, Blaize couldn't tell him much which gave you the impression that he was a pretty recluse guy even before he fled. Perhaps he did die in a sense that he is no longer the same man, but you couldn't say for sure. After all, you can't possibly figure out how such an annoying chatterbox could spring out of the dead remains of a powerful mage.

"I don't get it...why was I such a loner? I thought I was a pretty enthusiastic individual, but I was actually so depressing? Good god!"

Blaize hums and shrugs. "I can't answer that, master, yet I feel that you were reborn just like when we gained sentience. I personally don't like my older self."

"Of course you wouldn't! Who would want to lack awareness when there are so many possibilities to reach!" he boasts.

Blaize sighs with clear respect for the mage, "Oh master, I wish I met you sooner. I'm terribly sorry for not being able to reach you!"

You roll your eyes. That's the second time she apologized. Regardless of her sentient mind, you are at a loss of how she can remain loyal to this fool. Then again, he's the only one giving her such positive attention.

Maxius laughs and waves his elemental's concerns away. "Oh do not feel sorry. Besides, you wouldn't have been able to do a thing since I could only recover thanks to the blood of this monk beauty!"

Blaize gasps and turns her attention to you, something of which you've been wanting to avoid.

"So, you've sacrificed your virginity for the sake of my master?"

You pause. What?

Maxius grins, sighing as he dreams. "Oh...if only that we're true."

You snap back to the stupidity of the mage, jabbing his side which causes him to yelp. Then you turn your attention back to the fire elemental with a better question now that you have the opportunity to say it.

"First, not that kind of blood and I don't even want to know how you came to that conclusion. Second, where are you leading us?"

"A-ah! I wish to know as well. I got caught up in the moment there!" Maxius adds with a grunt as he recovers from your ki-filled punch.

"Oh!" Blaize gasps again, "I apologize! I didn't even realize to tell you. We're going to see your other creations, master!"

Both you and Maxius widen your eyes.

"I created more!?" Maxius exclaims in delight.

You sigh, wondering how your travels ended up to turn into a gathering.

Blaize hums. "Of course! Some of them are elementals, but others are...well, I'm not sure what they are. Each one had a purpose that you designed. Some of them gained sentience like me and believed you to come back one day, others...well, they still fill the duty you left. Unfortunately, there are others who believe that you abandoned them and have been fighting for centuries to take over the mountain."

You couldn't let the last part of her explanation simply fall through.

"Wait-hold on a second. You're telling me that there are hostile creatures here that Maxius created?"

Blaize could see your concern and she gives an easy smile. "Of course! We've been fighting them for centuries, but now that the master is back, he can easily bring back order to this mountain!"

You feel uneasiness in your stomach. You never thought traversing the mountain would be easy, but for there to be a whole war is something you could not have expected. Narrowing your eyes, you sigh and nearly was about to ask Maxius a question until you realize he is just as shocked and clueless based on his expression, so you once again hope the fire elemental can answer at least this question...

"How many are fighting exactly?"

Blaize hums. "Well...if you exclude the neutral ones who only were assigned to protect some areas and eliminate intruders, I would say there is about two hundred creations total."

Two...hundred? While that number wouldn't worry you as much since you are a fighter, the fact is that you'd be dealing with possibly powerful creations considering the capability of Maxius in the past. After all, you never imagined seeing such a humanoid fire elemental and furthermore, you have a hard time believing that Blaize's awareness was a simple accident.

Sighing, you glare at the mage next to you who has his hands in the air, expressing his equal shock and ignorance as his silent defense.

Still...

"You are causing more trouble than I thought you'd be, Maxius."